Method and device for cleaning teeth

ABSTRACT

A method for cleaning teeth by drawing at least one cleaning thread in a reciprocating movement along teeth, at least one end of which cleaning thread is fastened to an elongate handling member, the other end of the thread is grasped with the hand, and the cleaning thread at least partially encircles the teeth during the movement. Thorough cleaning is hereby possible, so that the risk of teeth decay and/or gum disorders is avoided. The invention also relates to a device for cleaning teeth, comprising at least one elongate handling member with at least one opening formed close to an end of the member for passage of a cleaning thread, wherein the end of the member comprising the opening is adapted such that gums around the teeth are hereby not adversely affected. The device can be provided with means for holding the end of the handling member located opposite the opening, for instance in the form of a handle. The invention also relates to a handle for use in such a device.

[0001] The invention relates to a method and device for cleaning teeth.

[0002] It is generally known that regular cleaning of the teeth is acondition for preventing tooth decay and periodontitis. There are twocommon teeth-cleaning methods here, i.e. brushing and flossing.

[0003] Most widespread is brushing of the teeth using a toothbrush.Relatively large areas of the teeth can in general be adequately cleanedherewith. However, brushing with a brush is less suitable for cleaningof the spaces between the teeth and the gum line between teeth, while itis precisely in such spaces that food remnants will collect which canresult in the occurrence of tooth decay and periodontitis.

[0004] It is per se known to clean these spaces using a special, verynarrow and sharp toothbrush, a so-called interdental brush. The use ofsuch an interdental brush can however easily result in damage and/orinflammation of the gums. This is particularly the case when the spacesfor cleaning are small, as will be case with young people.

[0005] Flossing is therefore especially suitable for cleaning the spacesbetween teeth and the gum line between teeth. A thin thread is hereinmoved reciprocally between the teeth and round the necks of the teeth.The problem with flossing is that it is a relatively complicatedoperation which is often only carried out reluctantly. Flossing, incontrast to brushing, is moreover not simple to perform with anelectrical appliance.

[0006] Different aids have already been proposed with which the flossingtreatment can be simplified. Such an aid in which all the measures ofthe preamble of claim 3 are combined is for instance described in theAmerican model registration D 358,001. The cleaning tool describedtherein consists of two sticks, between the ends of which a floss threadis spanned. In order to fasten the floss thread the ends of the flosssticks are each provided with a protruding end disc. This involves therisk of damaging the gums. Furthermore, a new length of floss thread hasto be spanned between the sticks at every use, which is awkward andtime-consuming work. Finally, the floss thread is not easy to release insuch a device if it becomes stuck.

[0007] Known from the American patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,050,470 and4,926,820 are aids which consist of two elongate members between which alength of thread can be spanned. These aids have the drawback that auser must always reach into his/her mouth with a hand. There is also thedrawback with these aids that a floss thread stuck between the teethcannot be easily released.

[0008] Further known from the American patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,799,177and 5,323,796 are electrically driven flossing devices which consist ofa handle with a drive therein and two arms protruding therefrom betweenwhich a flossing thread is movable. A manually operated variant of thesedevices is described in the American patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,598. Allthese Y-shaped or U-shaped devices have the drawback that a floss threadwhich is stuck cannot be released quickly, while the devices aremoreover relatively large and so cannot be readily placed into themouth. In addition, there is also the risk, as a result of the oftenunstable construction of these devices, that they make unintendedmovements, which could result in injury to the mouth.

[0009] The invention now has for its object to provide a method withwhich teeth can be cleaned in rapid and simple manner, in addition to adevice with which this method can be performed.

[0010] A method for cleaning teeth by drawing at least one cleaningthread in a reciprocating movement along teeth, so-called flossing, ischaracterized according to the present invention in that at least oneend of the cleaning thread is fastened to an elongate handling member,the other end of the thread is grasped with the hand, and the cleaningthread at least partially encircles the teeth during the movement. Bynot grasping one end of the thread, which has to be moved reciprocallyin the oral cavity, with the hand but fastening it to an elongatehandling member, a very hygienic method is obtained. The method ishereby also suitable for application by carers of people who arethemselves not able to floss. The use of a handling member further makesit possible to carry out a movement wherein the cleaning thread at leastpartially encircles the necks of the teeth on both the inside andoutside. Because the handling member is furthermore elongate andtherefore relatively thin, it can be readily placed in the mouth andmoved reciprocally therein without the mouth having to be opened verywide. Through the use of only one handling member there is further norisk of the floss thread remaining stuck between two teeth, since theend held with the hand can after all always be pulled out.

[0011] It is on the other hand also possible for each end of thecleaning thread to be fastened to an associated elongate, handlingmember, wherein the fastening of one of the ends is releasable. The useof the hands can thus be avoided altogether, wherein there are still noproblems when the thread becomes stuck.

[0012] The invention also relates to a device with which the abovedescribed method can be performed. Such a cleaning device, which inconventional manner comprises an elongate handling member, with at leastone opening formed close to an end of the member for passage of acleaning thread, has the feature according to the invention that atleast the end of the member comprising the opening is adapted such thatgums around the teeth are hereby not adversely affected. By thusembodying the end of the handling member, damage to the gums, andthereby the occurrence of inflammations and the like, can be preventedif the handling member unintentionally comes into contact with the gums.

[0013] According to a first embodiment of the cleaning device, the endcomprising the opening is herein manufactured from or covered with arelatively soft material. The chance of injuries occurring is herebysmall. A device which is simple to manufacture and durable is hereinobtained when the relatively soft material is a plastic, in particularan elastomer.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the cleaning device, the endcomprising the opening can additionally or alternatively take arelatively narrow form. The chance of the end unintentionally cominginto contact with the gums is hereby relatively small.

[0015] Advantageously the end comprising the opening can further berounded off, whereby this end will not penetrate into the gums but willas it were glance off them.

[0016] In order enable guiding of the cleaning wire in reliable manneralong the end of the handling member, the opening is preferably boundedby a peripheral edge closed on all sides, so that the thread cannotescape therefrom. In order to reduce wear on the thread and to enablethe thread to be pulled a length further in simple manner, theperipheral edge is advantageously substantially circular. However, theperipheral edge can herein have a gap-like tapering portion in which thethread can be clamped.

[0017] Conversely, the opening can be formed by an incision withconstricted portion in an edge of the handling member. The cleaningthread can hereby be placed relatively quickly and easily into theopening or removed therefrom.

[0018] In both cases means can be provided for guiding the cleaningthread to the opening, which guide means can be formed by a part of thehandling member tapering toward the opening. The thread can thus alwaysbe placed in the opening in simple manner.

[0019] The cleaning device can be further provided with means connectedto the handling member for fixing the cleaning thread. In a simpleembodiment of the device these fixation means can comprise at least oneincision formed in the vicinity of the opening in an edge of thehandling member, although an embodiment which is very simple to operateis obtained when the fixation means comprise at least one clampingelement connected movably to the handling member.

[0020] There can also be provided means connected to the handling memberfor severing the cleaning thread, for instance in the form of a sharpcutting edge. This edge could be formed in the handling member or ablade could be fixed to the member. The cutting means can also beaccommodated in a protective cap for arranging detachably over a part ofthe handling member.

[0021] In addition, the cleaning device is advantageously provided withmeans connected to the handling member for storing a supply of cleaningthread. These storage means can comprise at least one spool arranged onthe handling member. This is particularly advantageous because differentmanufacturers of cleaning thread supply their product on spools. Such aspool could then be readily mounted—for instance releasably—on thehandling member. For thread supplied in loose form or in balls thestorage means can comprise at least one receiving space formed in thehandling member.

[0022] The handling member is in principle intended to be grasped by theuser. For users who for whatever reason have difficulty with holding therelatively thin handling member, the cleaning device can be equippedwith means for grasping the end of the handling member located oppositethe end comprising the opening.

[0023] According to a first variant, these holding means comprise acoupling for connection to a handle of an electrical appliance, forinstance an electric toothbrush. Such a handle is usually quite sizeableand therefore easy to handle, while an electric toothbrush is alreadypresent anyway in most households.

[0024] According to another variant, the holding means comprise a handlewith a recess fitting closely round the end of the handling member. Ifthe handle is substantially tubular, with an insertion opening on afirst side and an outlet opening on an opposite side, this is cheap andsimple to manufacture, for instance from a foam plastic. In order thatthe handling member can be readily received in the handle, this lattercan have two parts connected movably to each other, whereby it can beopened and closed. In that case the handle can be manufactured from arigid material, for instance a hard plastic or even a metal, and therecess can optionally be covered with a soft and rough material.

[0025] The invention finally also relates to a handle evidently intendedfor application in a cleaning device as described above.

[0026] The invention is now elucidated on the basis of an embodiment,wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing, in which:

[0027]FIG. 1 shows schematically a possible method of spanning acleaning thread in a handling member for application of the method,

[0028]FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show schematically other ways of holding thehandling member,

[0029]FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of the handling member withcleaning thread,

[0030]FIG. 5A shows a detail view on enlarged scale of an end of thehandling member of FIG. 5,

[0031]FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a handling member withcleaning thread,

[0032]FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the handling member,

[0033]FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the handling member,

[0034]FIG. 8A is a detail view on enlarged scale of an end of thehandling member of FIG. 8,

[0035]FIG. 9 shows the use of two handling members,

[0036]FIG. 10 shows a fifth embodiment of the handling member,

[0037]FIG. 11 shows an example of a handling member received in ahandle,

[0038]FIG. 12 is a view of the handle of FIG. 11 in folded openposition,

[0039]FIG. 13 shows a cross-section through an alternative embodiment ofthe integral handle, and

[0040]FIG. 14 shows an embodiment wherein the handling member is pushedonto the handle of an electric toothbrush.

[0041] In a method according to the invention for cleaning teeth, acleaning thread is drawn in a reciprocating movement along teeth suchthat the thread as it were “hugs” the teeth. This cleaning treatment,known as flossing is performed in conventional manner by spanning acleaning thread or floss thread between both hands and then working thethread between teeth and moving it reciprocally. The necks of the teethand the interdental spaces in particular can be properly cleaned in thismanner.

[0042] Because moving the thread reciprocally in the mouth using one ormore fingers is perceived by many people as unpleasant or at leastunhygienic, it is proposed according to the invention to fasten one endof thread 2 to an elongate handling member 3 which is held in one of thehands 1 of a user. The other end of thread 2 is then grasped inconventional manner in the hand. This has the advantage that only theelongate handling member is placed in the mouth and has to be movedreciprocally therein, whereby it is not necessary to open the mouthwide. The treatment is thereby not perceived as so very unpleasant,while it also becomes accessible for people who cannot open their mouthvery far. In addition, the use of a handling member 3 is attractive topeople who have to clean the teeth of others, such as nursing staff,parents and the like. Furthermore, thread 2 can in this way be drawn inan “embracing” movement along the teeth.

[0043] Handling member 3 can otherwise be grasped in different ways,partly depending on the position of the teeth for cleaning (in the upperjaw or lower jaw). Cleaning thread 2 can thus be clamped with the middlefinger (FIG. 2), the index finger (FIG. 3) or the thumb (FIG. 4).

[0044] The handling member 3 has on at least one end 4 an opening 5through which the cleaning thread 2 can be carried. According to theinvention this end 4 of handling member 3 is in any case adapted suchthat the gums around the teeth of the user are thereby not adverselyaffected. One option for this purpose is to manufacture this end 4 froma relatively soft material, for instance a plastic such as an elastomer.This prevents contact of the end 4 with the gums resulting directly ininjury to the gums. It is of course also possible to cover this end 4with a layer of the relatively soft material. The shank 8 of handlingmember 3 can then be formed from a relatively hard and smooth material,for instance a hard plastic or a metal, to enable easy cleaning thereof.

[0045] Additionally or alternatively, the end 4 in which the opening 5is arranged can be given a relatively narrow form, thereby reducing thechance of this end 4 unintentionally coming into contact with the gums.It is also recommended to round off this end 4 so that it will not cutinto the gums.

[0046] In most of the embodiments shown here there are otherwiseopenings 5, 5′ with different diameters formed on both ends 4, 4′ ofhandling member 3. The thickness of the ends 4, 4′ can also differherein. The thicker end 4′ with the larger opening 5′ therein is thenparticularly suitable for use by adults, who will after all have alarger mouth than young people but who will also have more difficultywith inserting the thread 2 into the small opening 5. The thinner end 4with small opening 5 is intended for use by young people.

[0047] In order to grasp cleaning thread 2 as well as possible theopening 5 can be bounded by a peripheral edge 6 which is closed on allsides (FIG. 5A). This peripheral edge 6 is herein substantially circularto limit wear of the thread as much as possible, but can also have agap-like, tapering portion (not shown here) in which thread 2 can beclamped.

[0048] In order to enable simpler insertion of thread 2 into the smallopening 5, there are provided guide means 7 which are formed here by arecess in the surface of shank 8 which tapers in the direction ofopening 5. So as not to obstruct the movement of thread 2 to theopening, the end 4 of the handling member is in this case manufacturedfrom a relatively smooth and hard material.

[0049] In addition, handling member 3 has in the shown embodiment means10 for severing a used length of cleaning thread. These cutting means 10here take the form of a protruding triangular part with cutting edgeswhich is arranged on shank 8. This cutting part 10 can be manufacturedfrom a material other than that of shank 8, for instance a metal. It ishowever also possible to envisage embodying the cutting means in theform of a groove with sharp edges formed in shank 8.

[0050] In order to enable simple storage of a supply of cleaning thread,handling member 3 is provided with means for storage thereof. In theshown embodiment these storage means take the form of a spool 11 whichis here accommodated in a recess 12 which is in turn formed in athickened portion of the handling member. This thickened portion resultsin the handling member 3 being easy to grasp. In addition, the storagemeans comprise a receiving space 15 which communicates with recess 12via a channel 25. In this receiving space 15 can be stored a ball ofthread 2 which is then guided via channel 25 to spool 11, and from thereto one of the openings 5, 5′. When thread 2 is trained a few timesaround spool 11 it is held fast, so that spool 11 also functions asfixation means. Spool 11 can otherwise be releasable so that it can bereplaced in simple manner when the supply of thread 2 is exhausted.

[0051] In an alternative embodiment of handling member 3 (FIG. 6) thespool 11 is arranged on a shaft 13 extending through the shank 8 of thehandling member. By now pressing spool 11 firmly against shank 8 thepart of thread 2 trained therearound is clamped, whereby here too thestorage means 11 thus function directly as fixation means.

[0052] Yet another embodiment of handling member 3 (FIG. 7) is providedwith fixation means 9 in the form of a movable clamping element 28. Inthis variant the guide means 7 are formed by a recess which extends froman edge of handling member 3 to the small opening 5. Storage spool 11 ishere situated on the opposite side of shank 8, and thread 2 is guidedfrom this spool through a channel 26. Channel 26 runs out into afunnel-shaped mouth 27 which can be closed by a plug-like end part 29 ofclamping element 28. This clamping element 28 can be formed integrallywith the shank 8 and owing to its small thickness can be resilientlyflexible, so that it can be readily pressed in to fix thread 2 infunnel-shaped mouth 27.

[0053] Although an opening 5 with a peripheral edge 6 closed on allsides holds cleaning thread 2 optimally, it may be desirable, with aview to rapid drawing of thread 2 through the opening, to embody thisopening 5 as a gap or incision open on one side (FIG. 8A). Opening 5must be sufficiently large to enable thread 2 to be moved back and forthin simple manner therethrough. However, in order to prevent thread 2coming loose from opening 5, the incision is preferably provided with aconstricted portion 30, the width of which roughly corresponds with thethickness of thread 2. Guide means 7 are herein then embodied in theform of a relatively wide mouth of the incision 5 which tapers towardthe constriction 30 and through which the thread 2 can be readilyinserted. Additional incisions can herein be formed in the edge of shank8 as fixation means 9. A small spool 11 can also be formed for storingor fixing a length of thread.

[0054] In yet another embodiment of handling member 3 (FIG. 10), shank 8is relatively flat and embodied in a smooth and hard material, andelevated gripping means 31 of a softer and rougher material are formedthereon. Formed between these elevated parts 31 is another recess 12 inwhich the spool 11 is arranged. In this embodiment protective caps 32are further pushed over both ends 4, 4′, whereby openings 5, 5′ areprotected from contamination when handling member 3 is not in use. Aknife (not shown) can then for instance be arranged in one of these caps32 for severing the cleaning thread 2 after use.

[0055] Although the method according to the invention is applied mostsimply by fastening only one end of thread 2 to a handling member 3 andtaking the other end in the hand, the use is not precluded of twohandling members 3 between which the thread 2 is spanned if for onereason or another a user finds this convenient. It is then recommendedhere that one of the two handling members 3 used is provided with agap-like opening 5 as shown in FIG. 8 in order to allow easy release ofthread 2 in the unlikely event it becomes stuck in the teeth of theuser.

[0056] With a view to placing thereof in the mouth, handling member 3must be as slender as possible. For convenience of use however, a veryslender form is not always an advantage. Particularly elderly people andpeople with motor problems often have difficulty in firmly grasping avery slender object. Means can in that case be provided for grasping theend 14 lying opposite the end 4 with the opening 5, which holding means16 then have a larger diameter than the slender handling member 3itself.

[0057] In a first embodiment the holding means 16 are formed by a handle17 (FIGS. 11, 12) which has a recess 18 in which the end 14 of handlingmember 3 is received in close-fitting manner. In the shown embodimentthe handle 17 comprises two parts 17A and 17B which are movablyconnected to each other and which can for instance be connected by afilm hinge 19. Means can herein be provided for fixing the two halves17A, 17B in the closed position, for instance in the form of pins 20 andcorresponding openings 21 in the two halves 17A, 17B.

[0058] Conversely, handle 17 can of course also be manufacturedintegrally (FIG. 13), wherein handling member 3 is then simply pressedfrom one side through an insertion opening 33 into recess 18. An outletopening 34 is in that case provided on the opposite end to preventmoisture and contamination accumulating in recess 18.

[0059] Handle 17 can be manufactured from many different materials. Ifit takes a tubular form, the force for clamping the handling member 3therein must be generated through deformation, so that handle 17 canthen be made from a readily deformable material such as foam plastic. Itis however also possible to manufacture handle 17 from a hard materialand to form the recess 18 precisely in accordance with the member forreceiving therein. Handle 17 can for instance be shaped around themember and then fixed into this shape by adding a hardener.

[0060] In another embodiment the holding means 16 are formed by acoupling 22 with which handling member 3 can be connected to handle 23of an electric toothbrush. Such a handle is usually relatively thick andheavy because the power supply and the motor of the electric toothbrushare arranged therein, as well as a control switch 24.

[0061] Although the invention is elucidated above on the basis of anumber of embodiments, it will be apparent to the skilled person that itis not limited thereto. Many other configurations of the handling memberwith and without storage means, cutting means, fixation means and thelike can thus be applied. It is for instance possible to provide acleaning device which is suitable for both flossing and brushing. Thiscan be done by providing the end of the handling member opposite the endwith the opening with a normal or interdental brushing head. Themeasures for protecting the gums from the end of the handling member,i.e. the choice of material, design and dimensioning of this end, can beapplied separately or in combination. The embodiment of the handle canalso be varied in many ways. In the case of a tubular handle a largenumber of handles could thus be formed together as tube and thenseparated from each other by cutting along a separating line. Inaddition, the holding means, in particular handle 17 with recess 18, canalso be applied in combination with cleaning means other than the shownhandling member, for instance a conventional toothbrush or aninterdental brush, or even in combination with other tools for holdingin the hand, such as cutlery, household products and so on.

[0062] The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by theappended claims.

1. Method for cleaning teeth by drawing at least one cleaning thread ina reciprocating movement along teeth, characterized in that at least oneend of the cleaning thread is fastened to an elongate handling member,the other end of the thread is grasped with the hand, and the cleaningthread at least partially encircles the teeth during the movement. 2.Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each end of thecleaning thread is fastened to an associated elongate handling member,wherein the fastening of one of the ends is releasable.
 3. Device forcleaning teeth, comprising at least one elongate handling member with atleast one opening formed close to an end of the member for passage of acleaning thread, characterized in that at least the end of the membercomprising the opening is adapted such that gums around the teeth arehereby not adversely affected.
 4. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 3,characterized in that the end comprising the opening is manufacturedfrom or covered with a relatively soft material.
 5. Cleaning device asclaimed in claim 4, characterized in that the relatively soft materialis a plastic, in particular an elastomer.
 6. Cleaning device as claimedin any of the claims 3-5, characterized in that the end comprising theopening takes a relatively narrow form.
 7. Cleaning device as claimed inany of the claims 3-6, characterized in that the end comprising theopening is rounded off.
 8. Cleaning device as claimed in any of theclaims 3-7, characterized by means for guiding the cleaning thread tothe opening.
 9. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims 3-8,characterized in that the opening is bounded by a peripheral edge closedon all sides.
 10. Cleaning device as claimed in claims 8 and 9,characterized in that the guide means comprise a recess tapering towardthe opening in the surface of the handling member.
 11. Cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the opening is formed by anincision with constricted portion in an edge of the handling member, andthe guide means form a widened neck of the incision tapering toward theconstricted portion.
 12. Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims3-11, characterized by means connected to the handling member for fixingthe cleaning thread.
 13. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that the fixation means comprise at least one incisionformed in the vicinity of the opening in an edge of the handling member.14. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 12 or 13, characterized in thatthe fixation means comprise at least one clamping element connectedmovably to the handling member.
 15. Cleaning device as claimed in any ofthe claims 3-14, characterized by means connected to the handling memberfor severing the cleaning thread.
 16. Cleaning device as claimed in anyof the claims 3-15, characterized by means connected to the handlingmember for storing a supply of cleaning thread.
 17. Cleaning device asclaimed in claim 16, characterized in that the storage means comprise atleast one spool arranged on the handling member.
 18. Cleaning device asclaimed in claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the storage meanscomprise at least one receiving space formed in the handling member. 19.Cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims 3-18, characterized inthat an opening is formed close to each of the ends of the handlingmember, and both openings have different diameters.
 20. Cleaning deviceas claimed in any of the claims 3-18, characterized by means forgrasping the end of the handling member located opposite the endcomprising the opening.
 21. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 20,characterized in that the holding means comprise a coupling forconnection to a handle of an electrical appliance.
 22. Cleaning deviceas claimed in claim 20, characterized in that the holding means comprisea handle with a recess fitting closely round the end of the handlingmember.
 23. Cleaning device as claimed in claim 22, characterized inthat the handle has two parts connected movably to each other. 24.Cleaning device as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the handleis substantially tubular with an insertion opening on a first side andan outlet opening on an opposite side.
 25. Handle evidently intended forapplication in a cleaning device as claimed in any of the claims 22-24.